Kournikova' virus suspect arrested

[Larry stout kd7btw]

'Kournikova' virus suspect arrested By   Associated Press AMSTERDAM, 
Netherlands -- Dutch police have arrested a computer hacker who claims he 
wrote the Anna Kournikova computer virus that snarled e-mail around the world 
this week. The 20-year-old from the northern province of Friesland turned 
himself in and was arrested, police spokesman Robert Rambonnet told The 
Associated Press. He was detained on suspicion of damaging computer programs 
and property. His identity was withheld under Dutch privacy laws., although 
earlier reports identified him as an 'Internet accountant.' Rambonnet said 
the maximum penalty for damaging property is four years in jail. The Anna 
Kournikova virus backed up e-mail systems and hundreds of thousands of 
computers from Australia to the United States. The virus was traced by the 
Excite(at)Home computer network to a Dutch subscriber. Dutch police initially 
said they had no reason to investigate it. On Tuesday, a person identifying 
himself as OnTheFLy claimed responsibility on an internet site for writing 
and spreading the virus, saying it was meant as a warning to internet users 
to tighten security. "I never wanted to harm the people (who) opened the 
attachment," the person wrote. "But after all: it's their own fault they got 
infected." "OnTheFly" then encouraged victims to update their anti-virus 
software. The virus arrives as an e-mail attachment named 
"AnnaKournikova.jpg.vbs" and carries the message "Hi: Check This!" It 
promises to deliver a picture of the teen-age tennis star, but does not 
actually contain a photo. When the user clicks on the attachment, the virus 
is released, worming its way into address books and sending itself to 
everyone on the list, clogging e-mail servers. The virus spread rapidly 
Monday, slowing down e-mail systems and forcing some companies to shut down 
e-mail altogether. Security experts said it does not permanently damage 
computers. The outbreak was largely contained by Tuesday. The virus failed to 
infect as many computers in Asia as it did in Europe and the United States. 
Australia was hit hardest, with an estimated 100,000 computers affected. 
However, other governments in Asia reported little or no impact. "It was much 
worse in the U.S. because by the time Asia came to work, major companies had 
cleaned up the systems," said John De Riso, Taiwan spokesman for 
California-based Trend Micro. Security experts said the virus attack was the 
largest since the "I Love You" virus. The Love Bug virus, released May 4 in 
the Philippines, overwhelmed e-mail systems worldwide and caused tens of 
millions of dollars in damage. <A HREF="http://www.seacoastonline.com/news/index.htm">Click here for </A>  


LARRY STOUT
KD7BTW
CARSON CITY NV.

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